Sarah Ann Willis (1826 – 1864)

                                    Amelia Willis (1859 – 1860)

Sarah Ann Reeves was born circa 1826 in Newbury, the daughter of John and Amelia, nee Pike, Reeves.

She was recorded with her parents and brothers Henry, Thomas and Samuel at 87 Northbrook Street in Newbury in the 1841 census, John and Henry were recorded as tailors, Thomas a book binder and Sarah a dressmaker.

Sarah married Richard Willis on 16 March 1850 at St Nicolas in Newbury. Richard was born circa 1824 in Newbury and a widower. He had married Jane Dear on 19 February 1844 at St Nicolas in Newbury. Jane had died in November 1848 and was buried on 28 November 1848 at the Lower Meeting House (Independent) in Newbury.

In the 1851 census Richard and Sarah were living in Jack of Newbury Street in Newbury with two children from Richard’s first marriage, Benjamin and Emma, along with a son of theirs, Henry Charles aged 2 months. Richard was recorded as a tailor.

Richard and Sarah had seven children all born in Newbury, Henry Charles in 1851, John in 1852, Sarah Ann Reeves in 1854, Emily in 1857, Amelia in 1859, Henry George in 1861 and Richard in 1863.

The daughter Amelia who was born in 1859 died as an infant in June 1860 and she was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 30 June 1860.

In the 1861 census Richard and Sarah were living at 7 Bartholomew Street in Newbury with children Benjamin aged 16, John aged 8, Sarah aged 5 and Emma aged 3. Richard was recorded as a furniture broker and tailor employing two men and also a letter carrier.

Sarah died in March 1864 aged 38 and was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 26 March 1864.

Richard remarried in 1865 in Eton to Mary Ann Davison. The family then moved to London, they were in Marylebone in 1871 and Kensington in 1881 and 1891. Richard died in 1895 in Kensington.

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